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The Pastor
Click here to read Pastor Josh Pitka's blog
A Brief Testimony…
If there was one word to describe Joshua Pitka it would be “passionate”, however, it would be unacceptable not to add “lover of God.” His excitement for the Kingdom of God is contagious and his passion for the lost is convicting. Pastor Josh imparts purity and vision to all who are around him. Called by God to start a church named DUNAMIS, his story is nothing short of miraculous.
Born in Scarborough Ontario, Josh grew up in the Toronto area from his birth. From the age of 13 to 16 drugs, alcohol and many destructive vices controlled Josh’s life. A thief and a liar, a drug-addict and drug-dealer, Josh was full of disrespect and completely rebellious of all authority. He was totally consumed with his addictions. His ambition in life at that time was to deal drugs. However, at the age of sixteen, in April of 1999 while walking home from a bush party, Josh was stopped in His tracks when he heard what he would describe as the audible voice of God, “JOSH, YOU'RE EITHER WITH ME OR YOU'RE NOT.” Trying to shake it, he took two more steps, then froze as the voice spoke again, "NO JOSH, THIS IS YOUR LAST CHANCE. YOU’VE BEEN MESSING AROUND LONG ENOUGH! YOU'RE EITHER WITH ME OR YOU'RE NOT! MAKE UP YOUR MIND!” The experience was so profound that Josh fell to his knees as He cried out for God’s mercy. In that moment he knew he was a sinner, and was headed for hell. His sinfulness was revealed to him as he cried out for God to save him.
The fear of the Lord (a reverence and honour for God) gripped Josh’s heart, and that night he made Jesus Christ his personal Lord and Saviour. Turning his back on a life of partying and getting high, Josh started to attend some local youth groups. Not more than a few months after his conversion, one could find Josh in his bedroom, worshiping God and reading the Word of God (The Bible) for hours on end. He would get home from school and go straight to his bedroom often not even having a desire to eat dinner. Sometimes Josh would even be praying and worshipping and connecting with the Holy Spirit into the late hours of the night and early hours of the morning. He was consumed by the love, joy and peace he was experiencing from his Creator. He would often cry as the Holy Spirit filled his bedroom and he could feel the tangible love of Jesus. There was little time for television, video games or movies. GOD HAD BECOME REAL IN JOSH’S LIFE, AND IT WAS BETTER THAN ANY DRUG, ANY ALCOHOL, OR ANYTHING ELSE HE HAD EVER DONE!
He was completely on fire!!
In the summer of 2000, Josh and his family (his parents and three younger brothers) moved to Sarnia, a border city in Southern Ontario. God would plant Josh's heart in this city. Before Josh graduated from a local high school, he was suspended for handing out nearly a hundred copies of his testimony to many random students.
After graduating from high school, Josh went to a school of ministry at the Toronto Airport Christian Fellowship. During this time, Josh discovered the depths of God’s love. His voice got stronger to Josh as he sought God with all his heart. Josh was overcome with the desire to do God’s will no matter what the cost.
After completing the School of Ministry, the Lord really began to break Josh. The fear of man was no longer an option. Josh was called as a preacher, and before his return to Sarnia, God would convict him to stand up to preach on city buses, subway carts and even in road stop restaurants. Everywhere he went, Josh would feel the heart of God for the lost, and he would have to stop to preach and share the love of Christ.
It was shortly after his return to Sarnia that God sovereignly arranged for Josh to meet Brendan Witton, a pastor from Pickering, Ontario. Pastor Brendan was (and still is) the pastor of Church Without Limits, a rapidly growing church with campuses in Pickering and Toronto. (www.churchwithoutlimits.com). Josh instantly felt a connection with Pastor Brendan and this ministry.
During this time, Josh was working a job full-time cutting grass. Because of the long hours of sitting on a lawnmower, Josh had lots of time to think, and also pray and commune with his God. He would often get off the mower to preach and pray for innocent bystanders for healing or whatever their needs were. It was at this time that God began stir Josh’s heart and speak to him about starting a church. Initially he mildly struggled with the idea, as it was not the ‘normal’ route for a 21 year old. But Josh felt like God was saying, “I want you to start a church, and Pastor Brendan will be your pastor. You will show the young people My power!”
Josh then shared with Pastor Brendan how God had been speaking to him about starting a church. Pastor Brendan initially liked the idea and thought Josh could do it. After more time in dialogue and prayer, he subsequently concluded that God was indeed speaking to and calling Josh to start a work. Pastor Brendan encouraged Josh to come and serve under his ministry to receive training and instruction. After the set time, Josh would be released to go back to Sarnia and start things up. Josh agreed and spent the next 6 months working closely with Pastor Brendan and his team.
Then on Friday April 1, 2005, the first Dunamis meeting was held in the living room of Josh’s parent’s home with 10 people... The rest, as they say, is history.
